Portable humidifier



lm@ g i932 w. G. R. BRAEMER PORTABLE HUMIDIFTERl Filed sept. 1, 192s J7 Ven fof. f Wi//lam G. f?. Bree/11er.

Patented Juno 28, 1932 UNITED STATES lll fill

rlalvrau'lf org-"lucia:

WILLIAM e. n. saunas, or HADDONFIELDQNEW amasar. `AssIGNon, BY ricami ASSIGNMENTS, T AIBITE GQRPOBATION, 0F DOVER, DELAWAREA CORPORATION or DELAWARE Application mea september 1, 192s. serial no. 303,595.'

. -Tlieobject of my invention is to provide a simple, inex nsive yand elicient construction .of a portab e humidifier adapted for use 1n homes, oiiicesand other places, where a low relative humidity normally exists and far below that which should be provided for comfort with the temperature existing therein.

With the above and other objects in view,

the nature of which will be more fully u nderstood from the description hereinafter, the invention consists in the novel construction of a portable humidifier, as herelnafter more fully described and vdefined in the claims.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention, I have shown, in the accompanying drawing, the embodiment thereof which is at present preferred by me, since the same is in form to give satisfactory and reliable results.

Referring to the rawin Fig.- v1 is a ver,- tical sectional view o my improved humidier, taken on line 1--1 of Fig. 2; Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the same, taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and Fi 3 is a perspective view, on alarger scale, s owing the construction of a portion of the dissipating or baile reans for mechanically vaporizing the water 2 illustrates a 'circular tank preferably formed with supportin feet 2a whereby it is sustained above the tab e or place of support, said tank being open at the top and provided about its upper-edge with a plurality of air inlet ports 7. Furthermore, the bottom of the tank is preferably depressed, as at 2b, to cause the Water level to become relatively low, and whereby, witha 'given minimum of water, the central rotary'centrifugal pumpis caused to be operative by insuring a suiiicient minimum depth into which the rotary member of the pump extends,'as hereinafter more fully described. A

Fitting over the upper edge of the tank 2 is the flanged portions ofv a transversean'- nular diaphragm plate 3 which extends dwnward into the tank 2 but at a level above the" lWater therein, as indicated in Fig. '1.

" This diaphragm 3 is open at its center, as indicated at f1, and near its outer portion itis provided with a vertical annular wall 19, for

purposes later to described. The flanged portion 5 of this annulardia hragmfforms, with the outer portion of the ody 2, an annularpchannel 6 open-at the bottom to the atmosphere and adaptedvto guide the air ...upwardly thereinto and then laterally through the apertureT-into the spacefwithin the tank and below the diaphragm 3 thereof.

Arranged within the upper portion of the p. tank 2 is a spider frame having a ring-'shaped center 8 and radial arms 9, the outerf-fendsl'f the arms being cushioned at 10 upon the upper and outer portion of the annular diaphragm plate 3. An electric'motor 11, preferably flanged at its lowerpart, is fitted to 5 the ring-shaped portion of the spider 8 and clam ed in position by the clamping ring 11a. In this way, the motor is firmly secure'dtov the spider and the spider to the annular diaphragm plate 3. Any other suitable manner of securing the vmotor to the spider may be em loyed, if-so desired.

rranged lslightly below the spider is Aa disk 17 lying in a substantially horizontal plane and preferably having its circular perimeter curved slightly upward as at 20, the center o the said disk being secured to a hub 13 which, in turn, is secured tothe electric motor shaft 12 and by which the disk isA given a high rate-of revolution. The hub of the disk is made with a deep annular groove 14 at its upper part and providing a'preferably daring annular wall 15, the upper edge of which is on a level with the inner or central portion of the disk 17, and the hub so provided is furnished with a transverse aperture 16, for purposes to be later described.

Secured within the lower part of the'hub 13 is the upper endof a cylindrical pump barrel 27, said upper end being substantially level with an aperturev 16 Opening throng the hub into the lower part of the annular oove 14.y The interior wal128 of this tubuar'pump barrel is slightl tapering, being rlargest at the top and 'sma est at the bottom,

and the bottom portion is extended down veryy closely to the bottom of the depressed portion l,2b of the tank 2,' andpreferably fitted thereat with an annular Vring' 29 providing an opening into the pump 'barrel and l $2 in a tion in that t e filmf delivered'torthe. disk. at.;

the center thinsl out as`r it covers the increasemum resistance;

a slight. inwardly.` extending shoulder below the bottom. of the. taperingbwall'.

Surroundin the pump ',arrel 27 isa per:- forated cylin rical screen 3010i ai suitable 5' -characterto protect the pump fromireceiving any objectionably largev obstructing; matter.. The o ration; of this pumpL depends4` upon` centri galf action the slight flare in' tsin.-

terior wall 281' causing the waterv to riseA asi 10- a= film upon said? interior wall and; finds its way throughthe aperture '16'into Ithe annular channel 14, and thence ainrises-undercentrifugal action over the 'aringtwalli lltoithe' top level of the revolving disk 17.1 In'y this manner, the annular groove 14is substantiall .filled with water'atall times and delivers t erefromfina radialmanner'thefwateru the disk 17 which, under centrifu l action, spreads over the upper surface-o the@ disk graduall increasing attenuated. condi;.

ling area over which. itisv required tof-spread. In this manner,.thewater film which leaves l 35,5.. the perimeter of the disk 17. is exceedingly thin or attenuated and is beingrevolved, ati' 'a high. rate of speed .-and, under centrifugal action, tends to ily' oifw from the edgev of, they disk -and breaksl up.y into i mist. Q To assist this action and dissipate the attenuated film otV water intoy a fine-mist, I provide an annular row of dissipating blades or balesy 23v arranged about the perimeter off the disk. 17. in` an. annular frame- 24, and. the 3,15* blades thereofmade-flat and in substantially" radial planes withrespect to the disk. As the annular film leaves the disk 17, it strikes the disspating' blades and. breaks the filmu y into a finemist.. The slight upward in- 49 "c mationv tothe water film, lnduced by the curvature 20of the perimeter of the disk,

tends todirect the'mist. in anupward direction", asindicatedl by the arrows. The an ter 4'- of the` annularA diaphragm. 3. These` 25." blades'are extended radiallylieyondl the edge of the opening 4,. butf their inner endsr are preferab y made.` oblique and terminate` immediately above.y the said: openingy 4 of the diaphragrm In this' manner,` thel air. which.:y passes between the water andi;the'diaphragml 3' ispermitted.' to l passupwardly throughv the'I openingf 4'? and; between! the blower or fan: v bladesv 21', thereby: roviding" free circulation;

ugal disk117 vand adjacent tothe hub 13 there-l Furthermore-,i this air hanf asomar diedhy thefaiii ariwenradiuy droughts@ y annular air passage 18above theannular` disk v3 andi' below thebottomsurface of the water film producinggdiskl 1-7.y Inthis-L-mannenthe air being;l circulated is entirely out oflcontact` with the' water.I film being r` produced, so' that there.` is.no=detrimenta1 or disturbing;effect 1 ofl the# air upongthal water; p

. Wlienzr ther ai'nreaches:l the perimeter ofithe diskf1-7`,it continues under theannular frame..

24? through the spaces'betweentthe blades 23"` yof the dissipator andsassistinginfurtherrdis sipating; the water intof` vapor. Moreover,.

thereisa l'ar e'xportion` of" the air/current.

whichfpasses: yond the' annular frame 24' andV vertically upward.betweenithe"dissipator.`

bladesf23. andl the walla 1950iy the -annulardiaphragm 3,. and said airassistslin directing fighe mist upward-as indicatedfby the-arrows 1n. al: u o i is.7 an: upper casing which". fits snugly downintoA thenppery portion of; the annular,

disk 3l and? by whichh it isr supported; This uppercasing is curvedinwardl at its upper en indicated at. 36,.. and ther4 annular flange.

soprovid'ed leaves a large central opening, 37- which surrounds thev upper part of. the

electric motor 11. Itwill'be understood that.' thiseupper casing operates asa guiding means for thefvapor which rises v:Erornthe humidifier properl at. A. and as indicated, .the ysaid. vapors arev directed. centrallyy from B to: C4 toward.

and above the 4motor and thereafter'dissipab edy into the room, so-thata person" stan' closeto thehumidifierwould: not become-wet with moisture.

Immediatelyabove theliorizontal` disklf isv arranged'k anv annular plate 26 parallel to the-v disk 1 and preferablygof'slightly' less1dia1n-A eter. This plate 26. is securedto the ring.- shaped part 8 of the spider by means of screws 26a and when in position, rovides a shield above the revolving. disk 1 and a very narrow radial passage 22 between the disk 17 and plate 26, all of which will be readily understood by reference to Fig. I;

In the preferred form, as shown, the plate 26 is stationary and will prevent the fingers from coming in contact with the revolving disk, if for any reason they be thrust down into the humidifier;n Moreover, in filling the tank with water, it is only necessary to pour the water through the o ening 37 at the top of the upper casing an permit it to be received upon the ring-shaped part 8` of the lng spider and the plate 26, thus protecting the inwardy and?` down throughv the annular aper tuned intothe tank2. When #filling the tank? 2:

bypouringfthe water into'theupper open'elld of the casing 35, the attendntmy gage the l or 70 F s Leclerc? properheight of: the water in the-tank. 2 by observing'its rise through the side opening 38 in the tank. i

The electric current may besupplied to vthe electric motory 11 in any suitable manner,

but thisV is conveniently done as shown in Fig. 1. A, tube 31 is secured-to the bottom ofthe tank 2. and extends somewhat above.

the tank and contains the electric wires 32 and one member'of' a suitable coupling 33 atmotork and rotating: parts being in perfect dynamic balance, so asl tov runsmoothly and without material vibration, the Weiglht of the motor and` connected parts retain t e operative means in proper runningposition Withinthe tank and yetv permit the electric motor 11, the revolving diskk 17 and dissipator blades or baies 23, together with they blower 21 and the pump 27, to be bodily lifted out of the humidifier tank by lirst removing the casing l 35 and separating the circuit ycou ling 33. This gives full access -to the humidi er mechanism for repairs, cleanin or other purposes.

The general shape oft e u'pper casing 35 may be varied in design to suit the fancy of the maker or user of the device, and it will be readily understood that such shapes may embody characteristics of urns or artisticdesi ns of other characters, so that, aside from e ciency, the device may have vpleasing artistic qualities.

Under cold air conditions, a relatively small.

amount of moisture exists in the normal air and when said air is heated to F. 1n the 4winter time, it becomes .relatively sixteen times drierthan'it was at a zero temperature, and this small amount of normal moisture gives to the air the characteristic which is commonly designated as low relative humidit yExperience has demonstrated that comfort and health require a relative humidity of from 35% to 40% of what would be saturation of the air at thegiven temperature of 68 which would beobtained by radiators or other heating means common for heatin buildings.

ust as high relative humidity in summertime is debilitating andexhausting, so in Winter-time, with highly heated rooms, a low relative humidity'is objectionable in causing a dry skin and attendant conditions which induce colds and other diseases, and especially is this the case where the .heating means are radiators within the rooms as distinguished from hot air and indirect heating wherein the outside air is delivered into the room after being heated; but even in the latter case, the

humidity is too low to meet thphysical requirements of the occupants. y improved portable humidifier produces a tine vapor so thoroughly attenuated that it is absorbed. into the atmosphere readily and quickly, whereby itis diffused through the room or compartmentgunder natural circula-tion and increases the relative humidity to the desired degree,

.namely to 35% to 457% with a room temperature' of 68 to 70 F.

A machine ofthe character here described,

twelve inches in diameter, will cause the va'- porization of approximately one and one-half pounds of water per hour, the same being sufficient to properly humidify the air of three or four average rooms or of a large oiiice, having about four thousand cubic feet of spa-ce, for example, and during average winter conditions.

It will now be apparent that I have devised a novel and useful construction which embodies the features of advantage enumerated' as desirable, and while I have in the present inst-ance shown and described the preferred embodiment thereof which has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, it is to be understood that I do not restrict myself to the details as the same are susceptible of modification in various particulars` without departing from the spirit or scape of the invention.

Having now described my invention, what l claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1s:

1. A humidifier comprising a tank having its upper portion provided with an annular ico diaphragm plate open at its center, a motor supported above the annular diaphragm plate, a horizontal rotatable -disc securedto the motor shaft and arranged above the annular diaphragm plate, a centrifugal water pumpl of tapered cylindrical form axially arranged below themotor and rotated by it and extending through the central aperture of the annular diaphragm plate, fan blades secured in close relation to the under side of the horizontal disc and arranged between it and the annular diaphragm plate and immediately above the central opening therein, stationary dissipating means arranged in annular form about the perimeter of the horizontal disc, and a casing above the tank extending above t-he disc and dissipator means for directing the humidifed currents of air upwardly above the motor, said rotatable disc being secured tothe motor shaft by a hub having in its upper surface a deep groove terminating at its top with the rotatable disc and pro vided at its bottom with a transverse aperture communicating with the interior of the centrifugal pump.

2. A humidifier comprising a tank having its upper portion provided with an annular diaphragm plate open at its center, a motor supported above the annular diaphragm unto set m plate, a horizontal rotatable disc secured to the motor shaft and arranged above the annular dia hragm plate, a centrifugal water l pump o tapered cylindrical form axially arranged below the motor and rotated by it and extending through the central a rture of the annular diaphragm plate, fan b ades secured in close relation to the under side of the horizontal disc and arranged between it and the v annular diaphragm plate and .immediately above the central opening therein, stationary dissipating means yarranged in annular form about the perimeter of the horizontal disc, and a casing above the tank extending above the disc and dissipator means for directing the humidifed currents of air upwardly above the motor, said rotatable disc being secured to the motor shaft by a hub having in its upper surface a deep groove terminatk ing at its top with the rotatable disc and provided at its bottom with a transverse aperture communicating with the interior of the centrifugal pump, said groove gradually tapering upwardly and outwardly.

In testimollliy 3f which invention, I herean LLIAM G. R. BRAEMER.

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